Stringed musical instrument



L. I]. SMITH.

SITRIINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1911.

1,304,914, Patented May 27, 1919. I

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INVENTOH WITNESSES I I I Sml Z ATTORN EY LOLITA 1). SMITH, 0F HONOLULU, TERRITORY OF HAWAII.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed October 23, 1917. Serial No. 198,137.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOLITA D. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved musical instrument of a type similar to a guitar and the principal object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument having an improved body of such shape that the instrument may be held either upon the lap or placed upon a table without the quality of the tone being changed.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved musical instrument.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the improved instrument taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the improved instrument taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

This improved musical instrument is provided with a body having upper and lower walls 10 and 11, side walls 12, a lower end wall 13 and a solid head 14, as shown in the drawings and particularly disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3 thereof. The upper and lower walls are widened at a point intermediate the length of the instrument but nearer the end wall 13 and in this widened portion of the instrument the upper wall is provided with the sound opening or hole 15 across which extends the strings 16. These strings 16 are connected with the pegs 17 which pass through the lower bridge 18 and after being carried across the lower bridge are carried up across the sound opening 15 and along the finger board 19 across the upper bridge or nut 20 and. have their upper end portions connected with the pegs 21. By turning the pegs the strings may be tightened and thus placed under the proper tension to produce the tone desired. The lower wall 11 which connects the side Walls 12 and which extends from the solid head 14 to the lower end wall 13, is provided with an arch 22 extending for the greater portion of the length of this said lower wall. Byforming the lower wall of the instrument in this specific manner it has been found that the instrument can be played while resting upon a table or other support without producing an objectionable rattling sound or otherwise impairing the qualities of the tone produced. In the usual constructions wherein the lower wall is made flat it has been found that an objectionable rattling sound will be produced when attempting to play the instrument while resting upon a table or like support, but by curving or making the lower wall of the instrument substantially concave applicant has overcome this objection. It should be noted that the end wall 13 is arched transversely as shown in Fig. 2 thus permitting the instrument to be conveniently held upon the lap while playing.

Vhen in use, this instrument may be held in the manner usually employed when playing a guitar or if desired, it may be placed upon a table. A rod or short bar of smooth metal such as steel, will be placed beneath the strings 16 and by holding this with one hand and playing with the other, the instrument may be played in a manner similar to a guitar, the steel slidin along the finger board without danger of tfie strings coming into contact with the frets of the finger bar.

What is claimed is A musical instrument comprising a hollow body having its upper wall provided with a sound opening and having the lower wall provided with an arch extending for the greater portion of the length of the instru ment and for the full width thereof to permit the instrument to be convenientl supported upon the lap of the player w ile in use.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOLITA D. SMITH.

Witnesses:

Tnno. P. MELVIN, HARRY E. MURRAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). 0. 

